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Exam Overview
Teaching Reading (8006) is one of five Praxis Elementary Education Fundamentals tests. The others cover Reading and Language Arts (8002), Mathematics (8003), Social Studies (8004) and Science (8005). Your state decides which of these tests you need, so check its requirements before you register.
Test 8006 is given by computer, either at a test center or at home with a remote proctor. Every question is selected response. There are no essays or constructed-response (written) questions on this test.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Elementary Education Fundamentals: Teaching Reading |
| Test code | 8006 |
| Questions | 80 selected-response questions (some may be unscored) |
| Constructed response | None; no essays or written responses |
| Testing time | 100 minutes |
| Category timing | Each category is timed separately: 40, 30 and 30 minutes |
| Fee | $79 |
| Passing score | Set by each state or licensing agency |
| Delivery | Computer delivered at a test center or at home with online proctoring |
| Praxis Steps | Not yet offered for 8006; ETS plans to add Steps for this test later |
| Retake | Wait at least 28 days before taking the test again |
The Three Content Categories
| Category | Official Subtopics | About How Many Questions | Weight | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I. Foundational Literacy Skills | Phonological and phonemic awareness; phonics and decoding | 32 | 40% | 40 minutes |
| II. Fluency and Vocabulary | Fluency and vocabulary | 24 | 30% | 30 minutes |
| III. Comprehension and Written Expression | Comprehension and written expression | 24 | 30% | 30 minutes |
About 10% to 15% of the questions also draw on the Tasks of Teaching Reading. These questions place reading content inside a teaching situation, such as planning a lesson, choosing examples, modifying materials, leading a discussion or analyzing a student's reading or writing. ETS groups the tasks as Planning and Facilitating Instruction (eight tasks) and Analyzing Student Learning (four tasks). They are spread across all three categories rather than forming a separate part.
How the Timing Works
When you take the full test, each content category has its own clock: 40 minutes for Category I and 30 minutes for each of Categories II and III. Time you do not use in one category does not carry over to the next, so pace yourself inside each block. In every category that works out to about 75 seconds per question.
How the Test Is Scored
Your score is based on the number of scored questions you answer correctly, converted to a scaled score. Each state or licensing agency sets its own passing score; look up your state's requirement on the ETS Passing Scores by State page before you test. Some questions are being tried out and do not count, but they are not marked, so treat every question as if it counts.
There is no penalty for a wrong answer, so answer every question.
Question Formats
- Most questions ask for one best answer from four choices. This is the format used in this guide's practice tests.
- ETS describes the test as "a variety of selected-response questions." Some Praxis selected-response questions ask you to choose more than one answer, select part of a passage or graphic, or drag and drop. Read the directions on each screen carefully.
- Many questions include a classroom scenario, a short original text or a sample of student work to read first.
What Kinds of Questions to Expect
- Classroom situations that ask which activity, strategy or materials best support a stated goal
- Questions about a teacher's purpose in using a routine, such as folding a card over the silent e or tapping out sounds
- Student data to interpret, such as oral reading errors, spelling samples, fluency scores, retellings and writing samples
- Short original texts or poems to plan instruction around, such as teaching figurative language or text structure
- Questions about choosing the right informal assessment for a reading need
Exam Tip: Read the last sentence of each scenario first. It tells you whether the item wants a purpose, the best activity, an assessment or the next step, and that decides which details in the scenario matter.
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